I Should Probably Blog About BYU Football...

Taysom doing Taysom things.
Source: sltrib.com

I guess I've been MIA for the entire summer... As intriguing as this off-season was, especially for football, I just haven't had any brilliant thoughts that I wanted to blog about. But now that BYU football has actually started, the hype train is starting up again, and I guess I should get on board!

Even though the Arizona game turned out to be a nail-biter, I wasn't too worried until we fell behind in the 4th quarter. BYU was playing very well overall, even though they weren't putting a lot of points on the board. I think this team is a huge improvement over last year in many ways. Here are a few of my observations from game #1.

There must be a magical ingredient
in that chapstick...
Source: Twitter

First, Ty Detmer really is a GENIUS. Great play calling, good time management, and only one 3-and-out for the offense is a HUGE step up from what happened under Anae (I never liked that guy, for the record... thank goodness he's Virginia's problem now).

Second, Taysom is definitely BACK! Yes, I was one of those people who verbally shouted "DON'T GET HURT!" every time Taysom ran with the ball. Hopefully the anxiety will die down as the season goes on, but it was great to see him on the field again. Call me crazy if you want, but I think he looked better in the Arizona game than he did pre-injury in the Nebraska game last year. Calmer and more poised, he made faster & better decisions and didn't look like he was playing to not get injured. I'm glad he's willing to "leave everything out there" for his last year. That kid (or I guess I should say 26-year-old man) is tough as nails, and I'm so glad he's on our team.

Don't even bother trying to tackle me...
Source: foxsports.com

Also gotta give a shout-out to our other returning star, J-Swagg Daddy himself, Jamaal Williams. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and his almost 2 years away from football has done him a world of good. He's off to a great start for his goal of becoming BYU's all-time leading rusher, and he's certainly doing it with style!

Third, our defense is GOOD. They shut out Arizona, certainly not a cupcake team, for almost 3 whole quarters! The Arizona offense looked confused and just plain stuck in a rut. Francis Bernard, Fred Warner, Kai Nacua, Butch Pau'u... so many BYU players made brilliant plays. If not for a few assignment errors (should be easily correctable), we would have won that game by double digits.

The moment Jake Oldroyd became a BYU legend.
Source: HeraldExtra.com

However, if we had won by double digits, the game wouldn't have come down to a kick. Good news is, maybe I don't have to be so panicked about the kicking game after all... Where did this Oldroyd kid come from?! When I realized the game was going to come down to a field goal, I was literally sitting on the floor, hugging my knees to my chest & rocking back and forth with my face in my hands, debating about whether to look at the TV screen or not. "We don't have a kicker, we don't have a kicker... We're gonna lose because we don't have a kicker!!!" But then green-cleated. 18-year-old walk-on Jake Oldroyd stepped up & took my fears away.

The more I've learned about Oldroyd the last few days, the better the story gets. He wore his green high school cleats because he hadn't even been issued BYU cleats yet. The last field goal he kicked was in his junior year of high school. He was injured during fall camp, so he hasn't even practiced with the team yet. He originally wasn't even going to go to Arizona because he wasn't on the 2-deep. Now going into rivalry week, he's the starting kicker. You can't make this stuff up!

As great as the Arizona game was, this week could be a whole different story. I still hate the rivalry... but it does seem different this year, in a good way. Maybe I'm just oblivious, or maybe things will change in the next few days, but I've seen fewer nasty comments than usual, and the banter seems to be more "all-in-good-fun". This video in particular is hilarious... but it's not cruel. Could someone have pulled that off on BYU's campus instead? Probably... but I'm sure glad Cougar fans thought of it first! haha. I want to laugh during rivalry week... not scream into a pillow. Is that too much to ask?

I really want the rivalry to be fun again (although I'm not sure I remember a time when it was "fun", at least not in my lifetime of fandom). I really hope the relationship between Kyle Whittingham and Kalani Sitake can be a good example to fans on both sides of the field for civility and respect. As Sitake said a few months ago, "I love Kyle... but sometimes good people have to lose." :)

I have no idea what's going to happen on Saturday... it could definitely go in a million different directions. Of course I really hope BYU comes out on top, but even if they don't, I have high hopes for a good season this year against a super tough schedule. Go Cougs!

Tasha's 2014 BYU Football Predictions

2 Days Til Taysom & His Brothers are Back in Action!

UConn is just 2 days away! The team heads out to Connecticut this afternoon . . . it's happening, people!

I failed miserably in my predictions last year, so let's see how I fare this time around.

August 29 at UConn
As I learned on BYU Sports Nation this morning, it's been 21 years since BYU won a season opener on the road by more than 1 point. (Seriously?! Yes, seriously.) That's gonna change this year. Against my better judgement perhaps, I shall trust in Jarom Jordan this year, although I'm not quite as confident as he is in a 17+ point win. I say BYU wins by 10.

September 6 at Texas
I hate to be a downer so early in the season, but I don't think BYU can beat Texas on the road, especially with all the rage the entire state has had building up against Taysom over the last year. As long as we come out of this game without mashed potatoes, I'll be satisfied. BYU loses by 14.

September 11 vs. Houston
Texas Schmexas.  Time for the home opener! Last year's Houston game was waaaaay too stressful. At home this year, though, I think we'll do much better, but it will still be close. BYU wins by 7.

September 20 vs. Virginia
Time for some revenge! We'd better cream those Cavaliers . . . BYU wins by 24.

October 3 vs. Utah State
#AggieTears. Our upperclassmen never got to beat the Utes, and the Aggies' seniors will never get to beat the Cougs. I think this will be a close game though . . . BYU by a field goal.

October 9 at Central Florida
I think UCF will have a great season, and BYU has never fared well in the state of Florida. This will probably be closer than the Texas game, but especially if BYU has any injuries at this point, it will be tough. BYU loses by 7.

October 18 vs. Nevada
Bronson & Alani will channel their inner Van Noy and crush that wolf pack! BYU by 17 (17-0. This one's a shut-out).

October 24 at Boise State
This could be another close one-- I think BSU is underrated. BYU should pull this one out, though-- win by 6.

November 1 at Middle Tennessee
Biggest road win of the season. BYU by 24. 

November 15 vs. UNLV
This might be the closest home game (toss up with USU). Toward the end of the season, weather could be bad, we'll likely have injuries . . . but we'll pull it out because we're at home. BYU by 3. 

November 22 vs Savannah State
Christian Stewart and the rest of the second and third string will have some good playing time in this one. The crowd will disperse as the snow falls . . . brrrrrr. BYU wins by 30 on senior day.

November 29 at California
Gotta end the season on a high note. If Taysom and Jamaal are still healthy, this will be a great game. BYU by 13.

There you go. BYU goes 10-2 heading into the Miami Beach Bowl.

Cougar Nation is ready! Go fast, go hard, go long, brethren . . .

Summer Sports News Part 1: BYU Football

Our fearless leader, Taysom Hill, will throw
his first pass against UConn on Aug 29!

Oy, I haven't blogged in forever! Between moving to a new apartment and craziness at work and in life in general, I've just been swamped, and this summer has flown by way too fast. Unlike most summers, it's actually been quite eventful in the world of BYU sports this year . . . or maybe I'm just more aware of what's been going on, thanks to BYU Sports Nation.

Anyways, here's a quick recap of the major BYU football news from the summer. A similar basketball post is coming soon.

BYU Football-- Summer 2014

Kyle Van Noy was drafted by the Detriot Lions in the second round, joining Ziggy Ansah in the Motor City. I'm excited to see the "Elders of Defense" together on the field this year! No other Cougars got drafted (which is ridiculous), but there are a few free agents hoping to land contracts for the upcoming season, including Cody Hoffman (Washington Redskins), Daniel Sorensen (Kansas City Chiefs), Eathyn Manumaleuna (New England Patriots), & Spencer Hadley (New Orleans Saints).

There are TONS of new members of the BYU football team who have joined as freshmen, juco transfers, or graduate transfers (including about a zillion receivers who will collectively attempt to replace Cody Hoffman). Notables include:

• Devon Blackmon (WR)- He's "stupid fast"!
• Nick Kurtz (WR)- Tall, long arms, good runner-- seems similar to Mitch Matthews, IMO.
• Jordan Leslie (WR)- At UTEP in 2012, he had over 1,000 yards receiving, with a 19.1 yrd average per catch. This kid's gonna be good!
• Trey Dye (WR)- He took a monster hit at the scrimmage on Friday night (the likes of which would have rendered many people unconscious-- that video doesn't do it justice), but he just kept going. Seems like a tough kid with a lot of potential.
• Harvey Jackson (Safety)- This kid played for Nebraska. 'Nuff said. 

Bronson Kaufusi has shifted from DE to OLB. That'll be interesting. Michael Alisa has also switched positions, from RB to LB. 

I really don't think this is the huge deal it's been made out to be, but apparently BYU is not worthy of being a "Power 5" opponent. In other words, anyone is free to add BYU to their schedule, but it won't "count" as a really good, competitive game, and the ACC and SEC teams are going to start being required to play at least one of those really good, competitive games each year against a non-conference opponent. Who cares? BYU has the likes of Michigan and Nebraska on the schedule next year and plenty of other good games coming up over the next decade . . . I'm not worried.

The "Improper Benefits" scandal rocked BYU back in May . . . but so far, it's turned out to be, well, nothing. BYU is certainly not trying to cover up anything, they're self-reporting to the NCAA, and any repercussions or punishments, if any, will probably be very minimal.

UConn is less than 2 weeks away, and I'm pumped up! However, the season opener has become slightly dampened because of at least 2 self-announced suspensions (Devon Blackmon & Jamaal Williams) and at least 1 injury (Nick Kurtz). Last I heard, Kurtz is set to miss almost half the season, so he might even sit out the whole year with a redshirt, so he doesn't lose those months of eligibility. I'm really bummed about that-- I think he was one of the players I was most looking forward to watching this year.

Bronco accepted the "ice bucket challenge", as did Jarom & Spencer from BYU Sports Nation. Good times! Glad I'm not famous enough to get challenged . . .

Football season is not far away at all! Game on.

My 2014 New Year's Resolutions for the Cougars

I feel your pain, Cody.
From www.ksl.com

Oy, this has been a painful month. The BYU football team lost in rather spectacular fashion to Washington in the Fight Hunger Bowl, and the BYU basketball team has lost 4 games in a row for the first time in the Dave Rose era and finds itself in the bottom of the West Coast Conference. As disappointed as I am, I am definitely not a fair-weather fan, so I will continue to support the Cougars and hope things turn around in 2014. Here are a few things I think the football and basketball teams need to do to improve. Time for tough love . . .

1. Go a little less fast, a little less hard. BYU football had one of the fastest offenses in the country this year, snapping the ball to Taysom 684 times. While I think it was an interesting approach for Anae to use, and I guess it was worth a shot, it just didn't work. We need to go for quality instead of quantity. Playing smart is a lot more important than playing fast. Take the time needed to call good plays-- stop rushing it!

2. MAKE FREE THROWS. With the exception of Tyler Haws, who is still fairly reliable, I swear I have a higher free throw percentage than most of the BYU basketball team this year . . . sheesh. It's killed their ability to stay in the game more than once. It just doesn't look like they're taking things seriously, and they're letting the pressure get to them. I don't care what it takes-- If they have to do it again and again and again until they understand, so be it. They need to learn to get that ball in the hoop from the charity stripe. I get angry when they get fouled because it just means points that could have been . . . and that's not the way it should be.

3. Throw out the offensive line and start over . . .  again. Taysom carried way too much of a burden this year, and he took a real beating. He is super lucky that he made it through the whole season without a serious injury. He got sacked 38 times-- that's ridiculous. I think it's time to roll out the 3rd brand new offensive line in 3 years. They've gotta try something else because this just isn't working.

When Tyler is sad, it makes me sad :(
From www.vanquishthefoe.com

4. Bench Carlino. Sorry, I just can't handle his poor decision-making ability anymore. Put Kyle at the point, and sub in Halford, who can actually hit a 3 once in awhile. Matty also plays better when he has something to fight for-- if Rose takes him out of the starting lineup, I think he will play with his head on a little straighter. But he can't give him the starting job back easily-- he's got to really earn it.

5. Play to strengths. This could easily apply to both teams-- put the ball in the hands of the players who can do the best things with it. I think the rushing game is pretty solid next year in football, with Jamaal Williams, Adam Hine, and Paul Lasike, not to mention Taysom himself. The receivers will struggle, though, especially with the loss of Cody Hoffman, Skyler Ridley, and JD Falslev. If that means they need to run the ball more than throw it, so be it. They have to do what works. In basketball, the ball needs to be in the hands of Tyler Haws, Kyle Collinsworth, Skyler Halford, and Eric Mika. They get points. On the other hand, Nate Austin should almost never shoot the ball-- his role is solely rebounding and blocking. Unless the shot clock is gone, they should always be looking for a good shot-- not throwing up ridiculous prayers. We don't need heroes-- we need teammates.

6. Make the best of what they've got. Resist the temptation to panic! It's not looking like a deep run in the NCAA is in the BYU basketball team's near future. In fact, at this rate, they'll be lucky to make the NIT again. But now is not the time to throw in the towel-- take things one day at a time and don't let the emotion get you. Mika especially needs to control his temper and stop committing stupid fouls and getting technicals on top of it. They can still have a successful season if they start working RIGHT NOW. The football team's schedule is a lot easier next year, but that doesn't meant they can take a nap. They need to get their heads on straight and play hard, and they could come out with a 10-win season, prepping them adequately for another tough year in 2015.

Fingers crossed that 2014 sees more success on the court and the field!

BYU Football vs. Utah State Wrapup

Taysom's working that arm now!
From www.desnews.com.

So far, my predictions for the 2013 BYU football season have been radically wrong. In fact, the only game I've even correctly predicted the winner of was last week's matchup with Middle Tennessee State. While I'm obviously disappointed in the loss to Utah, I'm pleasantly surprised with the Utah State win. I guess we'll never know what would have happened if Chuckie Keeton hadn't left the game (and ultimately ended his season) at the end of the first quarter with a torn MCL and ACL. Poor guy. But overall, I saw improvement over the last 2 games, especially in Taysom Hill.

Taysom's pass efficiency rating shot up in the MTSU game (14 of 19 for 177 yards) and went up even more in the USU game (17 of 31 for 278 yards, his new career high). And the USU defense is definitely not one to laugh at, making it even more impressive. Now I've always been sympathetic toward Hill and have definitely NOT been one of his many critics this year. I don't know why some people have been laying 100% of the blame on his shoulders for the losses this season. It takes a lot more than a good quarterback to complete a pass-- it also takes a good call from the offensive coordinator, adequate protection from the offensive line, and a catch from a receiver, and in my opinion, all 3 of those positions have been really shaky this year. But thankfully, all of those people, plus Taysom, have seen improvement in the last 2 games, resulting in more completed passes and better ratings.

One thing I did predict correctly was the potential of Mitch Matthews. He finally ran into the spotlight in the USU game, catching 5 passes for 112 yards and 3 touchdowns. Considering he has never scored a touchdown at BYU before, that's amazing! I'm glad he's finally stepping it up.

I'm not quite sure what's happened to Cody Hoffman-- he just doesn't seem like himself this season. He was suspended for the MTSU game, and apparently there was a scare this week in practice, when they thought he might have broken his leg, but I guess it just turned out to be a bad bruise. He played pretty well in the Utah game, but in the USU game, he just didn't seem like Cody. Then again, he totally got robbed on the pass he almost caught in the endzone. Since when is it an interception when the ball gets ripped out of his hands after falling out of bounds? Worst call ever! It wasn't a TD, either, but they should have at least gotten another shot at it . . . Anyway, I hope he steps it up and comes back to be the Cody we all know and love in the second half of the season because right now, something's just not right.

I've also gotta give a shoutout to KVN for that awesome pick six, which happened only 10 seconds into the game. I think that gave BYU a huge shot of confidence that lasted throughout the entire game, especially since Taysom fumbled it and gave USU a TD on their first offensive drive. Kyle's TD made that a lot less painful. Way to go, KVN. You're my hero.

I'm not sure how the rest of the season is going to go, honestly. It could totally go either way. If they can keep up the momentum, they could win a lot more games. Or if they get more suspensions or injuries (the concussions for Jamaal Williams and Adam Hine were really scary, and unfortunately, Michael Alisa is now out for the season . . . I really hope no one else joins him), they could lose a lot more games and not even become bowl eligible. But if the trend continues with my predictions being the opposite of the truth, I guess that means we have a shot at beating Boise State, Wisconsin, and Notre Dame. But of course we've gotta start with Georgia Tech and the Homecoming game. Fingers crossed! Go Cougs!

BYU vs. Texas: What a Difference a Week Makes!

The storm rolls in with a vengeance. . .
From www.heraldextra.com

I'm still a little bit in shock over what happened on Saturday evening. Talk about a crazy football game! First of all, it was the first time in 10 years I've been in Provo on game day but not at the game. Understandably, I was pretty bummed about that, but then as 4:00 rolled around and the storm rolled in, I was grateful I was inside in my comfy recliner watching the pre-game show on BYUtv instead of standing out on those bleachers in the horrible wind and rain. And then because of yet another lightning delay (second time's the charm!), the game didn't start til almost 7:00. Geez, Mother Nature must not be a BYU fan this year!

As the clouds cleared and the game went on, a new storm came in: Hurricane Taysom! Holy cow . . . he tore up that field! It was totally unreal. That first 68-yard TD was crazy enough, but then he did it again . . . and AGAIN. 3 TDs, 259 yards rushing, almost half of a new school record of 550 yards rushing from the whole team. Totally nuts. Paul Lasike also contributed a TD, Jamaal Williams had his best game as a Cougar so far with 182 yards on the ground, and Justin Sorensen hit 4 field goals (which is definitely something to be celebrated, considering he only made 6 all of last season) to make it a comfortable win of 40 to 21 over the Longhorns.

I'm really excited for Taysom Hill and glad that he got this win. I think it will be a huge confidence boost going into the Utah game, which in my opinion, is BY FAR the most important game of the year. On the other hand, his passing rate was pretty terrible, only completing 9 of 26 on the evening. Now, of course you have to take into account that some of those balls were definitely catchable and the receiver either dropped it or just wasn't paying attention and let it blow right by. BUT, thankfully Taysom has a brain, and when he realized that throwing wasn't working, but running was, he started running. And running and running and running. I am starting to wonder if that knee brace gives him special powers . . .

Really the only thing that worries me about Taysom taking on the role of a running back is that it increases his odds of getting injured again. He really needs to start sliding and protecting himself better . . . I know Bronco and Anae have been encouraging him to do so, but it doesn't appear he's listening very much in real combat. Anyway, I guess at least in this situation, he did what it took to get results, and I think that's the most important aspect of being a great quarterback. Just PLEASE don't get hurt!!!

Is Taysom an elite BYU quarterback yet? No. Will he become one over the next few years? Not sure . . . he certainly has a chance to, but he's got a ways to go. However, if he can at least make his passing game passable (no pun intended) and he can retain those running back qualities he's got in him and stay out of the hospital, he could definitely become one of the all-time greats.

Of course Taysom wasn't the only one who showed improvements since the Virginia game. The offensive line was A LOT better. Thanks to them, Taysom had more than half a second to decide what he was going to do with the ball. They weren't perfect and still have some things to work on, but I think this lineup worked a lot better than the lineup against the Cavaliers.

Of course, Kyle Van Noy and a few other defensive players (Alani Fua and Eathyn Manumaleuna are the two who first come to my mind) had stand-out nights as well. I swear Kyle can just pop up out of nowhere and the offensive line doesn't even see him. Maybe he was alluding to that phenomenon when he called the game "magical" on the BYUtv post-game show. haha.

In another post-game interview, KVN said, "I think tonight really showed our team, our identity." I hope that it's a sign of good things to come. I definitely didn't see this win coming, but I was very glad to be proven wrong! Way to go, Cougs! Now let's go get them UTES!!!

BYU Football 2013 Player Predictions

It's almost game day!!! Well, I guess I subscribe to the belief that "every day is game day", but you know what I mean. It's almost the REAL game day! BYU kicks off with Virginia in less than 48 hours. As we get set for the 2013 season, here are some of the players I think will make a huge impact this year.

Kyle Van Noy

I know, I'm starting with the obvious. Kyle is just about on every pre-season national award watchlist anyone's ever heard of . . . and several no one has. I'm sure a lot of that has to do with his amazing performance against SDSU in the Poinsettia Bowl last year, but I think he's capable of even topping that. I've found it kind of interesting that BYU has kept Kyle's play totally under wraps for the last 8 months-- I don't think he's participated in a single open practice or scrimmage game where the public or media was allowed to watch. I hope that means he's scary good! I think KVN just might be the "next Ziggy" who becomes a top-10 NFL draft pick. And to think his career at BYU almost stopped before it started . . . Talk about redemption! It's no wonder he and Brandon Davies are good friends. Everyone deserves a second chance. :) I know Kyle wants to win, and he really, really wants to beat the Utes. I approve! As I've said before, KVN has a really good shot at becoming the #1 defensive player of all-time at BYU.

From www.cougarboard.com

Cody Hoffman

I'm so glad Kyle & Cody took my advice and decided to come back for their senior seasons at the Y. :) Cody is already #5 on the BYU receiving yards record list at 2,718. He's 4th in receptions with 203 and 3rd in touchdowns at 28, but only needs 2 more to break Austin Collie's record of 30 TDs. He also only needs 3 more games of 100+ receiving yards to break Collie's record of 11. I predict that during his senior season, Cody will become #1 on all of these record lists, and those records will last for a very long time after he's gone. Seriously-- this guy could catch a football blindfolded and with Crisco all over his hands . . .

The Hoff! Found this one on Pinterest.

Michael Alisa

Coming back from a broken arm midway through last year, I think Mike will really rack up major yardage. He's got good hands, he's fast, and I think he'll make some big contributions to the team this year. In the 4 games he played in last year, he only averaged 52.5 yards per game and only scored one TD, but I think he'll be a lot stronger this year. He'll go out on a high note as a senior.

Jamaal Williams

He's finally legal at age 18, and even though he comes across as cheesy in most interviews, he's ruthless on the football field. He already set records as a freshman, and I think he'll definitely continue to do so as a sophomore. He didn't perform great in ALL the games last year, but overall he picked up 775 yards and 12 touchdowns. With 3 years left, he has a good chance to join the short list of BYU’s all-time best running backs.

Taysom Hill (also from Pinterest)

Uani Unga

I've heard nothing but praise for this inside linebacker. A transfer from Oregon State, Uani Unga will help at least as little bit to fill the void left by Brandon Ogletree. He may not be the leading tackler on the team (although he could be), but I think he'll make some very solid contributions on defense.

Mitch Mathews

I've heard a lot of buzz about this guy in the off-season. Apparently he's turned into a very talented wide receiver. It will be interesting to see how it pans out, but from what I've heard, he's got a lot of potential and just might give the likes of Ross Apo & Skyler Ridley a run for their money. Mitch is 6'6" and has really long arms, so I see him making some impressive catches this season and cementing his position as a starter in 2014.

Bronson Kaufusi

He tackled opponents on the basketball court in the offseason, and now he's ready to do it without getting fouls called on him! I think Bronson will help fill the void left by Ziggy Ansah. I've heard he's gotten stronger and faster since last year, and I think he'll be another major contributor on defense. 

Taysom Hill

Of course, I can't forget our starting QB. Without a good performance from him, all these other guys can't do squat. I think as long as Taysom remains injury-free this year, we're in good hands. Robert Anae has definitely been teaching him to slide instead of run head-on into linebackers, so hopefully that's a good sign! He also has a capable backup in Ammon Olson, but I'm more comfortable with Taysom at the helm. He's got a good arm, a good head on his shoulders, and he's very athletic. I think it might start out a little shaky while he gets used to the pressure, but after muddling through a few games, he'll bring good things to the Cougars this year.

Rise up, Cougar Nation! It's time for football!

My 2013 BYU Football Predictions

Taysom Hill throws a pass at the
Fall Scrimmage on Aug 10.

 For the first time in 10 years, sadly, I am not buying season football tickets or an all-sports pass (I absolutely refuse to call it by its new name or give it any credit because it has been completely ruined now). Anyway, I hope to still attend a few of the games, but for the most part, I will likely be watching them from my couch. I'm still psyched, though! Go Cougars!

My predictions from last year were partly right, and partly wrong. So much for Brandon Doman doing a great job . . . Anyway, BYU is coming in at #36 in the pre-season polls, meaning at least some of the critics think they've got a good shot at a successful season. However, the recent loss of cornerback Jordan Johnson and some injuries at nose guard could make the defense really shaky, especially to start out. I hate to say it, but maybe the new "go fast, go hard" policy is a little too fast, too hard. We've gotta keep these players healthy, or this is going to be a really rough season!

Anyway, I'll probably write another post focused more on the players, but I've decided to take this one game by game.

August 31 at Virginia
I think the adrenaline of a new season will carry us through this game. KVN, Cody, and Jamaal will bust out of the gate running, and while it will be a tough contest, I think BYU wins by 7.

September 7 vs. Texas
This is going to be a really tough home opener. Texas will be coming off an easy peasy home win against New Mexico State, and I think BYU might be a little battered from Virginia, even if they pull out the win. BYU will probably hang in there through the first half, but will fall behind in the end. BYU loses by 14.

September 21 vs. Utah
We'll be coming off a bye week and still be angry from the loss to Texas. Plus, it's UTAH, and Kyle, Cody, and the rest of the seniors who have never taken down the Utes will come out with a lot of rage. I don't care if BYU loses all their other games this year-- they HAVE to win this one! So I say BYU wins by 10.

September 27 vs. Middle Tennessee State
MTSU finished last season 8-4, which certainly isn't terrible. If BYU comes into the game unprepared or cocky coming off a win to Utah, it could get shaky. I think BYU might fall behind at the beginning, but they will come back strong in the second half. BYU wins by 14.

October 4 at Utah State
Ah, the Aggies. The team BYU doesn't care about at all, yet they think we are a bitter rival. Whatever. I'm actually a little nervous about this game. I think it will be close, and the home field advantage might be BYU's demise. I'm going to hope my reverse psychology works on this one . . . BYU loses by 3.

Backup QB Ammon Olsen

October 12 vs. Georgia Tech (Homecoming)
Time to pull out the Tradition, Spirit, Honor jerseys! Yeah, not so sure that's a good thing. Oh well, at least it's only for one game. We creamed GA Tech last year, but I don't see that happening again. BYU still wins by 7, though.

October 19 at Houston
Houston had a losing season last year, 5-7, and got creamed by the likes of Tulsa, SMU, and East Carolina. BYU should (knock on wood) dismantle these Cougars easily, I say by 24.

October 25 vs. Boise State
Thank heavens we don't have to play on the smurf turf this year! As much as I like the color blue, that's just too much. . . Anyway, I think this will be a tough contest, and the Cougs will cave under the pressure of a national spotlight, especially if we have anyone out with injuries, which is almost unavoidable by this point in the season. BYU loses by 17. 

November 9 at Wisconsin
Um, yeah, BYU's gonna get crushed in this one. Gary Anderson will finally get his revenge . . . BYU loses by 28.

We're ready to rumble!!!

November 16 vs. Idaho State
We'll come back after 2 losses in a row to make a comeback against the Vandals on Senior Day. BYU wins by 21.

November 23 at Notre Dame
While the Fighting Irish have lost their starting QB to academic suspension and some of their other stars to graduation, including the infamous Manti Te'o, they will still be a tough team to beat, especially on their home turf. BYU loses by 14.

November 30 at Nevada
Kyle Van Noy's homecoming game will be a great way to send him off to the NFL. I predict KVN has his best game of the season and BYU wins by 24.

So . . . I guess that means I think we're going 7-5 this year. In all honesty, if they can even get up to 8 wins, I'd count that as a very successful season, considering this brutal schedule. Hope they prove me wrong and pull out a few of those tough ones. Go Cougs!

KVN & The Hoff Commit to Returning for their Senior Year

The last 2 weeks have been crazy busy, and I was stuck in a house with an internet connection that wouldn't have a chance against a drunk, elderly snail in a race, so I've gotten way behind. I've got like 5 posts in my queue to write, but this one just had to come first. Kyle & Cody are coming back!!! It's going to be a really tough 2013 BYU football season, but having them on the team will really help the Cougars have a fighting chance at a BCS bowl. Here's how the schedule currently stands:

Aug. 31 at Virginia

Sept. 7 Texas

Sept. 21 Utah

Oct. 4 at Utah State

Oct. 12 Georgia Tech

Oct. 19 at Houston

Oct. 26 Boise State

Nov. 9 at Wisconsin

Nov. 16 Middle Tennessee State

Nov. 23 at Notre Dame

Dec. 7 at Hawaii

They've still got 3 or 4  games to fill in, so it theoretically could get even tougher before the season actually starts.

The best part is that I can arguably take full (or at least partial) credit for the return of the Hoff & KVN because I know they read my blog post encouraging them to come back. haha. Twitter provides proof:

What exactly will the Cougars gain from KVN & Cody coming back? They both have chances to smash records and become some of the best Cougar football players of all time. Cody will likely break Austin Collie's receiving records, and having him on the 2013 team, as Dick Harmon puts it, is "like manna from heaven for the Cougar offense." Cody has caught a pass in 32 consecutive games and is already fifth on the BYU receiving yards leader board at 2,718. He's 4th in receptions with 203, 3rd in TDs at 28, but only needs 2 more to break Collie's record of 30. He also only needs 3 more games of 100+ receiving yards to break Collie's record of 11. I predict that during his senior season, Cody will become #1 on all of these record lists, and those records will last for a very long time after he's gone.

As for Kyle Van Noy, he has a really good shot at becoming the #1 defensive player all-time at BYU. He is the only player in the country to record a stat in every major defensive category in both 2011 and 2012. He is currently ranked #1 nationally (tied with 4 other players) in sacks. He is also tied for 2nd place in the country in forced fumbles, and is top-10 in tackles for loss and blocked kicks. Despite losing Ziggy Ansah and Brandon Ogletree, KVN returning will help the 2013 defense give the 2012 nationally-ranked and possibly best-ever BYU defense a run for its money.

I'm not quite sure yet how I feel about the demotion of Brandon Doman to QB Coach (if he decides to accept) and the return of Robert Anae as OC. Although I find it almost impossible to believe it will make the offense worse. I'm sure I'll write another post about that subject in the coming days. But all-in-all, when you combine KVN and Cody's return with the return of Taysom Hill, Jamaal Williams, Michael Alisa, and a few other stellar players, I predict 2013 to be a much brighter season than 2012. Go Cougars!!!

BYU Football vs. GA Tech: "Baby J" Needs a New Nickname

Jamaal Williams dragging GA Tech to their demise (from www.deepshadesofblue.com)

When I was 17, I was just trying to survive high school and hoping I didn't run my parents' car into a mailbox. But 17-year-old Jamaal Williams, referred to "affectionately" as "Baby J" by his teammates, is scoring 4 touchdowns in one game against a BCS team in the ACC. He doesn't even turn 18 until April 3, 2013! But Jamaal is definitely not a baby anymore.

Riley Nelson puts it all in perspective: "He was 11 years old when I started my first game as a freshman before my mission. Just think about that for a minute."

That's freaking crazy. I can't believe how mature he is, though. He's not even LDS, but decided to go to BYU because he likes the standards and didn't want to get distracted by things like partying and alcohol. Way to stand up for what you believe in! Have the missionaries made a visit to his dorm room yet? Haha.

When Michael Alisa went down with a broken arm in the Hawaii game, I thought we were doomed, especially with an already-struggling offense. But Jamaal Williams rose to the occasion and has really delivered in spectacular fashion. He's currently averaging 4.8 yards per carry rushing and 11.3 yards receiving and is quickly becoming Riley's go-to guy on the ground. He is going to bring very, very special things to BYU for the next 3 years. I predict he may even pass Harvey Unga as BYU's all-time leading rusher.

Of course, Jamaal wasn't the only one to shine in the Georgia Tech game. I had no idea until after the game was over that Tech has the 3rd ranked rushing offense in the country . . . somehow I missed that memo, but dang, our defense really stepped up, too. How many third-down conversions did Tech get? ZERO. How many TDs did our defense allow? ZERO. Of course the Cougar D has been stellar all year, but struggled in the last few games, so I'm glad they've come out of their rut. 

We've got a pretty "easy" (knock on wood) stretch of games coming for the remainder of the season, so I just hope we can win out, stay healthy, and continue to improve enough to win the bowl game. It definitely hasn't been the greatest season on record, but there's still a light at the end of the tunnel that it can end in a very positive way, in large part thanks to Baby J :)

BYU Tramples the Hawaii Warriors & Looks to Utah State

47 to 0 shutout. Nice work, boys. Too bad we can't take 4 of those points and add them to the Utah game, add 2 points to the Boise State game, and just for good measure, give ourselves a 40 point head start on Utah State. Then we'd still beat Hawaii by 1 . . . and a win is a win, right? :) Oh well.

That Hawaii game was really a bloodbath. Seven minutes into the game, we'd already sent two Hawaii players to the hospital on stretchers, Michael Alisa broke his arm (and is probably out for the rest of the season, dagnabbit!), and somehow I sprained my ankle. Not sure how it happened since I was just a spectator minding my own business up in the stands, but somehow I'm inclined to blame Ziggy Ansah. haha.

Once again, I'm very impressed with the defense. They've now gone 9 consecutive quarters without allowing any points. If they can keep that up, we'll be in pretty good shape. I'm also impressed with our new freshmen stars, Taysom Hill and Jamaal Williams. Taysom became the first true freshman quarterback at BYU to win his first starting game (and did it in impressive fashion, I might add), while 17-year-old Jamaal Williams ran for an impressive 155 yards after Alisa went down. He may not be old enough to vote for president, but I'd vote for him in almost any third down situation. A re-vamped offensive line also gave the Cougs a breath of fresh air and a little bit of hope that this season may not be a complete waste after all.

My favorite moment of the game by far was Taysom's 68-yard TD run. I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw him sprint past all the defenders. Dang, that kid can run! He racked up 143 rushing yards total. For a quarterback--a FRESHMAN quarterback, no less--that's insane!

I'm still worried about Utah State . . . but not quite as worried as I was before. My main concern right now comes down to Riley Nelson's injury and whether his adrenaline and passion will overpower his head and his pain medication and cause him to insist he is ok to play, even if he isn't. With Utah State, Riley's got something to prove. He wants to play in that game BADLY, but I'm not sure if the coaches should let him.

Utah State HATES Riley Nelson with a passion, primarily because he played his freshman year there, but then transferred to BYU while he was on his mission (that would be essentially the equivalent of someone transferring to Utah from BYU-- the ultimate act of betrayal in their eyes). If he goes into the game on Friday night, the Aggie defense is going to do all that's in their power to hit him where it hurts (in the back). They will play dirty. I'd bet their main goal (possibly even above winning the game) would be to send Riley to the hospital and give him a season- and career-ending injury. They consider him a traitor and would probably love to see nothing more. I still can't figure out why the Aggies hate BYU so much (News flash to USU: BYU doesn't consider you a rival. We don't care about you at all.), but of all the Cougars, they probably hate Riley the most.

So, here's my suggestion. Let Taysom start. See if he can get into a rhythm and put some points on the board. Then, if we have at least a slightly comfortable lead at halftime (or if Taysom isn't playing up to par) put Riley in for a few snaps. If he's able to play and does well, keep him in for awhile, maybe the full 3rd quarter. Then, depending on the score, put either Taysom or James Lark in for the 4th quarter. However, if the game is really close at the half or if we're behind and Taysom is playing well, I think we need to leave Taysom in. It's just not worth the risk. Sorry, Riley. I think you're amazing, but trust me-- I know how tempting it is to test a back injury and think you can do more than you really can-- but you don't want to regret it later. It's not worth it.

The USU game could go either way. A few weeks ago, I really believed BYU would get crushed, but now I'm seeing a possible light at the end of the tunnel. I think the game being in Provo will be a huge help, and the Hawaii game was great practice for the O-line, defense, and Taysom. I think they've got the adrenaline and the motivation to put up a really good fight. I predict a close game (decided by a touchdown or less)-- we'll just have to wait and see who comes out on top.

The striped stadium actually didn't look too bad! Nice job, Cougar fans!